Restraints on Our Ambitions |
Kelly Grieco of the Stimson Center points out how quickly we would blow through half of our THAAD system with SM-3 interceptors if we deployed them to the Middle East against Iran and began firing at a rate we established last June:
3/THAAD daily firing: June tempo = 8–12/day Ready rounds (96):8/day → 12 days12/day → 8 days Reloads (~94–119):8/day → 12–15 days12/day → 8–10 days Total in-theater endurance: ~2.5–3.5 weeks (16–24 days) — Kelly Grieco (@ka_grieco) February 28, 2026
3/THAAD daily firing: June tempo = 8–12/day
Ready rounds (96):8/day → 12 days12/day → 8 days
Reloads (~94–119):8/day → 12–15 days12/day → 8–10 days
Total in-theater endurance: ~2.5–3.5 weeks (16–24 days)
— Kelly Grieco (@ka_grieco) February 28, 2026
It’s less than a month.
And remember, many people wanted these weapons systems to be sent and used by Ukraine already.
How long and deep of an engagement is Trump really betting on here?